K.C. defense steps up, shuts down Cowboys
Clyde Edwards-helaire ran for 63 yards and a touchdown in his return from injured reserve, Chris Jones and the Kansas City defense made life miserable for Dak Prescott, and the Chiefs beat the Dallas Cowboys 19-9 on Sunday.
Patrick Mahomes was 23 of 37 for 260 yards with an interception and a fumble for Kansas City, but he was bailed out by a defense that played its best game of the year. Charvarius Ward picked off Prescott in the end zone near the end of the first half, and Chris Jones had 3½ sacks while forcing and recovering a fumble.
The result: The Chiefs (7-4) improved to 4-0 against the NFC East with their fourth straight win overall.
Prescott was held to 216 yards passing and two interceptions for the Cowboys, though he was missing a whole lot of help.
Left tackle Tyron Smith missed his third straight game with an ankle injury, Amari Cooper tested positive for COVID -19 and fellow wide receiver Ceedee Lamb sustained a concussion just before halftime.
Ezekiel Elliott, who appeared to tweak his ankle early in the game, finished with nine carries for 32 yards.
Vikings 34, Packers 31: Greg Joseph made a 29-yard field goal as time expired to give the Minnesota a victory over Green Bay Packers.
Kirk Cousins passed for 341 yards and three touchdowns for the Vikings, finishing a classic back-and-forth with Aaron Rodgers, who threw three of his four touchdown passes in the second half, by making sure the three-time NFL MVP didn’t get to touch the ball last.
Texans 22, Titans 13: Tyrod Taylor ran for two touchdowns and threw for 107 yards and Houston snapped the NFL’S longest active skid, beating Tennessee to end the league’s longest winning streak.
The Texans came in having lost eight straight since winning their season opener and hadn’t scored a TD on the road since Sept. 19.
Desmond King had two of the Texans’ four interceptions — three in the fourth quarter to snuff out the Titans’ attempted rally. Houston turned those and a fumbled punt into 13 points. The Texans also had two sacks.
Ravens 16, Bears 13: Subbing for star quarterback Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley led a winning drive capped by Devonta Freeman’s 3-yard run with 22 seconds remaining, and Baltimore beat Chicago.
Jackson was sidelined by illness for the AFC North-leading Ravens (7-3), who ruled him out 90 minutes before kickoff. The 2019 MVP was a full participant in practice Friday after being held out the previous two days. Coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday the illness was not COVID-19.
Justin Tucker kicked three field goals for the Ravens, who rebounded from a loss to Miami. The Bears (3-7) lost their fifth straight.
Washington 27, Panthers 21: Taylor Heinicke threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns against the league’s top-ranked pass defense, and Washington beat Carolina in Cam Newton’s return to Bank of America Stadium.
Terry Mclaurin had five catches for 103 yards and a touchdown for Washington and former Panthers coach Ron Rivera, who won in his return to Carolina.
Newton, making his first start since signing a one-year contract to return to the Panthers, threw for 189 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a 24-yard score. But Newton’s final two potential
game-winning drives ended when the Panthers turned the ball over on downs.
Eagles 40, Saints 29: Jalen Hurts ran for three touchdowns, Darius Slay returned an interception for a score and Philadelphia beat New Orleans.
The Eagles have won two in a row for the first time this season and rookie coach Nick Sirianni earned his first victory at home in five tries.
The Saints dropped their third straight since losing quarterback Jameis Winston to a seasonending ACL injury. Trevor Siemian threw three touchdown passes and two picks and ran for a score without several missing starters around him.
Browns 13, Lions 10: Nick Chubb caught a TD pass and ran for 130 yards as Cleveland held on to avoid a season-wrecking upset and keep Detroit winless.
Chubb returned to Cleveland’s lineup after a one-game absence due to COVID-19. He caught a 5-yard TD pass from Baker Mayfield and then helped the Browns run out the clock. Chubb gained 36 yards on the final drive.
49ers 30, Jaguars 10: Jimmy Garoppolo threw two touchdown passes for the third consecutive week and San Francisco dominated Jacksonville for its third win in four games.
The Niners scored on their first five possessions, including opening the game with a 20-play field-goal drive that took more than 13 minutes, and set the tone for what would be long day for the Jags.
Bengals 32, Raiders 13: Joe Mixon rushed for 123 yards and scored two TDS to lead Cincinnati.
The well-rested Bengals came out of their bye week and snapped a two-game skid to climb back into the AFC North race, while the Raiders lost their third straight.
Joe Burrow was 20 of 29 for 148 yards and threw one touchdown for Cincinnati, while Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate Ja’marr Chase hauled in three passes, including one TD.
Cardinals 23, Seahawks 13: Colt Mccoy was outstanding filling in for Kyler Murray, throwing for 328 yards and two TDS, and Arizona beat Seattle.
For the second straight season, Mccoy was a backup thrust into a starting role in Seattle and walked away with a victory. Last year, Mccoy was with the New York Giants. This season, it was with Murray missing a third straight game due to an ankle injury.
Mccoy went 35 of 44 and thoroughly outplayed Seattle’s Russell Wilson in his first home start since undergoing finger surgery.